A/N: I'm sorry, guys! The muse just sort of ran away from me for a while there... Thank you so much to all who keep supporting me throughout all this and for the reviews of Alliprince, Argetaie, JigokuShoujosRevenge and thefierydeath; those were especially encouraging! =)

P.s: Sorry about any typos or mistakes you may find. I really didn't do as much revision work as I should.

Summer Solstice Feast

It was the night of the Summer Solstice Feast and, coincidentially, Thor's birthday.

Despite the fact that people in Asgard didn't really celebrate birthdays (as days were sort of insignificant in their life-span, they tended to celebrate decades as children and centuries as adults, instead of using the Midgardian notion), Thor was a bit bummed that his was turning out in such a fashion.

"Hey," it was a quiet voice. Weirdly enough he was probably one of the few people who ever got to hear it that way.

"Hello Sif," Thor didn't turn to face her, keeping his gaze in the distant view of his mother's gardens.

"Thought you could use some company," Sif added, when he didn't say anything after a few minutes.

"Well, I'm fine, really. You should go inside and enjoy the party," he spared her a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes and finally turned to face her.

Sif was not in the hideous dress her mother had picked out for her, but she was, as much as it displeased her, in a dress.

It was a color that complemented her features well. An icy blue dress, that flowed down to her ankles, but seemed to be easy to move in. It was very simply cut, a style that suited her, because she was already developping into a beautiful woman.

"You look-" he didn't have time to finish his sentence.

"Don't even think about it!" she hissed, pointing her finger at him.

He laughed genuinely at his friend's ever present disgust for flatteries and any form of courtship. Even if it was as innocent as a compliment from someone who had been her friend ever since she could remember, Sif was taking none of it.

"I brought you a drink. I don't know about you, but watery beer and wine aren't really of my preference. Especially in this warm weather," Sif said, handing Thor an empty glass, as she fished a bottle seemingly out of thin air.

She poured a dark liquid into each of the glasses she had brought with her.

"May your future be bright and your triumph as grand as those of your ancestors!" Sif raised her glass and then drank the icy drink, made from a rare asgardian fruit.

"Likewise, Sif!" Thor followed, emptying his glass. "Ah, this really is the best beverage for such a hot night."

"Agreed," Sif gave him a lopsided smile.

They watched the gardens and the stars in the sky in silence for a while. Then Thor frowned as the need to talk suddenly struck him.

"Sif?" Thor asked tentatively, seeing Sif had closed her eyes and was simply enjoying the warm breeze.

"Hmmm?" she answered, still distracted by whatever thoughts she was entertaining.

"Do you know if Elsred is coming tonight?" his tone was supposed to be nonchalant, but Sif knew him well enough to detect his nervousness.

"You really like her, don't you?" she countered, still not opening her eyes.

"I think she's the most beautiful, kind-hearted girl I've ever met and I'm quite sure I'd kiss the living daylights out of her, if she'd let me," as the words left his mouth, Thor found himself utterly flabbergasted.

Sif finally turned to face him, wearing a knowing grin that made his ears turn red with embarrassment.

"I mean, I would really like it if I could dance with her tonight and hold her close," Thor had meant to say that his previous statement had come out wrong and justify it, but he found himself unable. His eyes widened further with disbelief.

"Good on you to have come forward with your feelings, my friend. I was beginning to worry your stubborness might get in the way," Sif's grin was starting to trouble him. He pondered on it for a few moments, while Sif merely waited for his reaction.

"Did you have something to do with this sudden burst of unwanted honesty?" he finally wondered, pointing an accusing finger at her. Anger was starting to course through him.

"Yes," Sif replied simply, taking another sip of her drink.

"But... how? You're not a sorceress," Thor frowned. He would never consider the possibility of Sif making an allegiance with Loki.

"I am not. But your brother is," Sif looked up at him with false innocence and tried hard to suppress a laugh at his expression.

As the gears clicked into place in Thor's head, his scepticism outweighed his anger.

"You and my brother worked on this wretched scheme together," it wasn't a question, so much as a statement, but it sounded as though Thor saying it aloud merely served the purpose of trying to convince himself of what he was saying. "And hell hasn't frozen over?"

"Your brother and I, in spite of all our quarrels, agree that we want you to be happy," Thor could see Sif was being sincere. "We all know that will depend on you fixing things with Elsred."

"The thought of Elsred's imminent departure is gnawing at me from the inside," he turned his gaze away, aware he couldn't keep the words in, no matter how much he was trying.

"I know. That's why you need to tell her how you feel. You need to let her know before she goes. You'll never forgive yourself if you lose this chance," Sif put her hand on his arm, squeezing reassuringly.

"Maybe you're right, but what difference will it make? She will still be gone before long, no matter what," he whispered, looking rather down.

"One more thing I need to know," Sif said abruptly, after a couple of minutes during which she tried to think of a way to cheer Thor up and came up empty-handed.

"What?" Thor answered, still half lost in his depressing musings. She paused briefly before speaking.

"Do you really think your hand to hand combat technique is better than mine?" Sif smiled slyly. Thor looked as though he was trying really hard to swallow the words he spit out next.

"No, you're ten times better at it than I am. Even swordsmaster Gunnar thinks so," they were out like water through a crack in a dam. "Damn it!" he muttered angrily as Sif laughed.

"A-ha! I knew it!" Sif did a happy victory dance.

"I will do absolutely nothing to you or my brother! Nothing, you hear me?" he had meant to say he was going to kill them. He growled in frustration and disconcertment, raising his hands in the air.

Sif laughed so hard, she cried.

Earlier that day, Loki had wanted a word with his mother.

"Mother, how does one go about the enchantment for absolute truth?" Loki asked Frigga, after he had stormed into her personal library.

"Why do you want to know, Loki?" Frigga asked curiously, raising her eyes from the book on her lap.

"Well, Thor likes a girl, but he is acting like an absolute a-" Loki wore a frown.

"Language, son," she interrupted with a pointed look.

"-nti-gentleman. What else would I say, Mother?" he finished innocently.

"Ah. I see. And your plan is..?" Frigga tried to hide a smile at her son's antics, but failed entirely.

"Get him to admit his feelings, apologize to the Lady and on with the happy ending theme song. It is a Feast we're throwing and on his birthday, too. He has to celebrate about something," Loki clarified as he rolled his eyes.

"I can't give you the enchantment, my love," Frigga's eyes were apologetic, as she closed the book and got up from her armchair.

"But Mother-" she raised her hand to shush him.

"No buts!" she exuded such authority that he didn't dare speak a word of protest.

Loki sighed loudly. His mind was already searching for a new solution to his problem.

Well, it was actually his brother's, if he wanted to get technical.

"I do, however, tend to be quite forgetful. I usually leave the door to my study unlocked and, silly me, that particular spell book is right on the desk. Page 377," Loki's eyes rose to his mother's, glinting with awe and gratitude, as a smile spread through his lips. She winked and went out of the room.

Loki had always brought out Frigga's own mischievous spirit.

One she thought she had locked away when she had married Odin, Frigga mused as she made her way out of the library to meet her husband.

"I thought you said that draught I drank earlier was an antidote!" Sif yelled at Loki, about twenty minutes after she had convinced Thor to knock on the door to Elsred's chambers, since she had locked herself in.

"Yes, well, I lied," Loki grinned at her with his usual nonchalance.

"You insufferable adorable bastard!" Sif kept her tone of voice angry, but immediately covered her mouth in horror as the words flew out of her mouth. She grew a few shades darker than pink.

Loki raised an eyebrow at her, but couldn't quite hide his smile. "Adorable is probably the most insulting out of all three words."

"Oh, shut up!" she bellowed, her cheeks still a deep scarlet red. "Why didn't I become completely honest while I was with Thor, then?" Sif was obviously trying to divert Loki's attention from her little outburst.

"That draught I gave you was meant to diminish the effects of the enchantment on you, so that it would only work in regards to my questions," he explained.

"Why would you do that? I thought we were on truce!" Sif demanded, her eyes burning.

"I thought my brother wasn't the only one who needed to come clean about a few things," he gave Sif a look which made her turn her gaze away.

"That's rich, coming from the God of lies and mischief," she mumbled.

"I will extend you the same courtesy, you need not worry, dear Sif," her head snapped at the endearment term and her eyes opened wider.

"You mean to say you will answer my questions truthfully as well?" Sif scoffed. "I highly doubt that. I think you'll just tell me whatever you think I want to hear."

Loki smiled at her. Not a smirk, as was usual, but an actual smile. "You know me well. But I promise you this isn't just one of my games. Not tonight, at any rate."

Sif paused for a few moments, as she inspected his face and found nothing that gave away any sort of trickery.

"Very well. I will answer whatever made you desperate enough to know, that you poisoned me with a truth serum," her eyes narrowed.

"I am pleased to hear it," Loki made a pause himself, though for a lot less time than Sif had. Then he questioned her with a grave face. "Do you have feelings for Thor? That day Elsred was scared of the snake and he held her, you looked quite upset. I was wondering if it was jealousy that made you act that way."

Her response came immediately. "No, of course not! He's like a brother to me! And of course I was upset, you endangered two of my best friends for the sake of some stupid jest!" Sif yelled.

Loki's shoulders dropped as the tension he hadn't known was there faded.

"Hmm. I see. My apologies, " he paused briefly again. "Am I like a brother to you?" Loki looked her in the eye and she visibly struggled, trying without success to not let the words out.

"No. You... You're my friend, but more than that too. You see me for me and we fight, but I know I can't stay mad at you because... Because I really like you," Sif's hair hid her face from view. "That was hardly fair, you know? I believe it was my turn to ask a question. I don't see why any of this matters to you, anyway. If you mean to make me a fool, this is rather cruel," again, she was trying to shift his attention from what had just been said, but Loki knew better.

In a few strides he was in front of her. Loki's hand trembled slightly as he raised it to push Sif's hair out of her face and tilt her chin up towards him. Sif still wouldn't meet his eyes, even after he had done that.

"I care, Sif. I care an awful lot. I can't explain why, really, but I've always been drawn to you," he whispered, as though he was afraid of saying it aloud. Sif finally moved her gaze to meet Loki's green eyes. She saw so many things dancing around in them and yet she couldn't make sense of it. He was, however, unguarded for the first time since Sif had met him and she found that his honesty was both frightening and exciting to her.

"Do you mean you fancy me, then?" Sif's heart thudded violently against her chest. Though it was girly and she hated it, there was also a weird feeling at the pit of her stomach.

"I wonder how I will answer that question properly," Loki smirked.

Sif thought briefly that she was done for, before Loki leaned down whatever distance was left between them and kissed her fiercely.